Handle grip for bails

ABSTRACT

A handle grip for bails on buckets and the like in which the grip snaps into position from the inner concave side of the bail and has transverse slits so that the grip can more readily bend into chordal segments in accordance with the arch of the bail.

United States Patent Wilson 1 51 Jan. 18, 1972 [54] HANDLE GRIP FORBAILS [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Earl Wilson, Seattle, Wash.UNITED STATES PATENTS [731 A g Sales & Services, l W h- 3,072,955 1 1963Mitchell 224 4514 x 3,083,366 3/1963 Franges.... ..224/56 x [21]App1.No.: 881,108 3,486,684 12/1969 Dills et a]. ..l50/12 x PrimaryExaminer-Gerald M. Forlenza 52] us. C1 ..224/45 P 51 Int. Cl. ..A45l5/10 seed Hwy Dmmy [58] Field ofSearch ..224/45, 45.14, 50, 51, 52,

224/53, 54, 56; 248/345]; 52/689; 16/108; 220/85 E; 150/12; 190/57;229/52 AL, 52 AW 57 ABSTRACT A handle grip for bails on buckets and thelike in which the grip snaps into position from the inner concave sideof the bail and has transverse slits so that the grip can more readilybend into chordal segments in accordance with the arch of the bail.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED m 81912 ales-15382 E ARL WILSONINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS HANDLE GRIP FOR BAILS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to improved handle grips for holding bails of the typecommonly applied as handles to buckets and other containers. These bailsare usually formed of wire and when the filled container is relativelyheavy, the bail tends to uncomfortably press into the palm of the handwhile it is being carried. In the past, bails have in some instancesbeen equipped. with wood sleeve handles but these have had to be appliedbefore the bails were bent into shape, thus making a relativelyexpansive installation.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved handlegrip of unusually simple and economical construction which may bereadily applied to a bail after it is attached to a container.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved handle gripwhich will conform to the curvature of the bail and thereby eliminateany need to form a straight central section at the top of the bail.

Other objects are the providing of a handle grip which will firmly gripthe bail, will be attractive in appearance and will provide flatsurfaces for the printing of advertising or instructions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING I In the accompanying drawing: FIG 1 isa perspective view illustrating a handle grip embodying the presentinvention in use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the handle grip be-- DETAILEDDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing it is seen thatthe handle grip of the present invention is illustrated applied to anarched bail 11 serving as the handle for a container 12 of the type, forexample, commonly used for paint or other liquids. Such a bail isnormally formed of metal wire, but the term bail is used in thisdescription and accompanying claims in the broad sense in that it can bea loop formed of metal or plastic wire, multiple woven fiber strands, asingle twisted paper strand, etc., and may have a straight centralportion.

The grip 10 is formed by extruding a strip of suitable inexpensiveresilient plastic such as polyethylene to the desired cross section andthen cutting into individual handle pieces about 3 inches long. Broadlyspeaking, the grip 10 is a channel having a base 13, sides 14 and 15,and an entry 16 opposite the base. This entry is defined by a pair ofinturned lips 17 which slope inwardly somewhat at the top to form atapered mouth for the entry and then curve outwardly a short distance toedges 18.

The inner lip edges 18 face a pair of longitudinal ridges or ribs 20located at the sides of the base 13 and forming therebetween a seat 21facing the entry 16. Between the ribs 20 and the lips 17, the sides 14and of the channel bulge outwardly in a V configuration. As aconsequence the upper portions 14a and 15a become spring flanges for thelips 17. The flat outer faces of the sides may be used as printingsurfaces for advertising or instructions.

It will be noted by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 that the width of theentry 16 and of the seat 21 is made narrower than the diameter of thebail II on which the respective handle grip is to be-used. Similarly,the distance from the lips 17 to the ribs 20 is less than the baildiameter. As indicated by the phantom position of the bail in FIG. 5,the lip edges 18 and the opposing upper free ends of the ribs 20 definethe corners of an approximate rectangle as viewed m cross section whosediagonals are preferably shorter in length than the diameter of the bailon which the handle grip is to be used.

When the bail 11 is arcuate at the top, the grip 10 is formed at spacedintervals of its length with transverse slots or slits 22 which passthrough the lips 17 and the upper halves 14a and 15a of the sides 14 and15. These slits 22 may be easily cut during production before theplastic extrusion is subdivided into the handle grip lengths.

The. handle grip 10 is easily positioned in a bail by pushing the gripentry-side up from the concave underside of the bail so that as the bailstarts into the entry as indicated in FIG. 5 the lips 17 and sideportions 14a and 15a will be wedged by the bail apart and away from thebase 13 with the apex 23 at each side as the fulcrum to permit the bailto enter the channel whereupon the lips spring back part way so thattheir edges 18 bear against the upper convex side of the bail and retainthe bail seated by its lower concave side between the ribs 20. As shownin FIG. 3, the slits 22 in the handle grip spread open duringapplication of the grip so that the grip can longitudinally take bychordal increments, the curvature of the bail. If the bail has astraight central portion, the slits 22 are perforce not required.

I claim:

1. A handle grip for a bail of a given diameter comprising an elongatedflexible channel of substantially uniform cross section, said channelhaving a base with an inner longitudinal concave seat, outwardly bowedsides, and a pair of inturned spaced lips directed toward said seat anddefining a longitudinal entry therebetween narrower than said diameter,said lips sloping toward one another to give a tapered mouth for saidentry, said lips being spaced from the sides of said seat a distanceless than said diameter and being adapted to spring apart to widen saidentry during application of the channel onto the bail and to then springback to press said lips against the bail and hold it against said seat,said base having a pair of inner longitudinal ribs defining said seattherebetween and spaced apart a distance less than said diameter of thebail for centering said grip on said bail.

2. A handle grip for a bail of a given diameter comprising an elongatedflexible channel of substantially uniform cross section, said channelhaving a base with an inner longintudinal concave seat, outwardly bowedsides, and a pair of inturned spaced lips directed toward said seat anddefining a longitudinal entry therebetween narrower than said diameter,said lips being spaced from the sides of said seat a distance less thansaid diameter and said outwardly bowed sidewalls being generallyV-shaped in cross section between said seat and said lips wherein saidlips are adapted to spring apart to widen said entry during applicationof the channel onto the bail and to then spring back to press againstthe bail and hold it against said seat.

3. The handle grip of claim 1 in which the body of said channel hastransverse cuts at spaced intervals therealong which extend from saidentry through said lips and about halfway through the width of saidsidewalls.

4. The handle grip of claim 2 said base having a pair of innerlongitudinal ribs defining said seat therebetween and spaced apart adistance less than said diameter of the bail.

5. The handle grip of claim 2 in which the body of said channel hastransverse cuts at spaced intervals therealong which extend from saidentry through said lips and about halfway through the width of saidsidewalls.

1. A handle grip for a bail of a given diameter comprising an elongatedflexible channel of substantially uniform cross section, said channelhaving a base with an inner longitudinal concave seat, outwardly bowedsides, and a pair of inturned spaced lips directed toward said seat anddefining a longitudinal entry therebetween narrower than said diameter,said lips sloping toward one another to give a tapered mouth for saidentry, said lips being spaced from the sides of said seat a distanceless than said diameter and being adapted to spring apart to widen saidentry during application of the channel onto the bail and to then springback to press said lips against the bail and hold it against said seat,said base having a pair of inner longitudinal ribs defining said seattherebetween and spaced apart a distance less than said diameter of thebail for centering said grip on said bail.
 2. A handle grip for a bailof a given diameter comprising an elongated flexible channel ofsubstantially uniform cross section, said channel having a base with aninner longintudinal concave seat, outwardly bowed sides, and a pair ofinturned spaced lips directed toward said seat and defining alongitudinal entry therebetween narrower than said diameter, said lipsbeing spaced from the sides of said seat a distance less than saiddiameter and said outwardly bowed sidewalls being generally V-shaped incross section between said seat and said lips wherein said lips areadapted to spring apart to widen said entry during application of thechannel onto the bail and to then spring back to press against the bailand hold it against said seat.
 3. The handle grip of claim 1 in whichthe body of said channel has transverse cuts at spaced intervalstherealong which extend from said entry through said lips and abouthalfway through the width of said sidewalls.
 4. The handle grip of claim2 said base having a pair of inner longitudinal ribs defining said seattherebetween and spaced apart a distance less than said diameter of thebail.
 5. The handle grip of claim 2 in which the body of said channelhas transverse cuts at spaced intervals therealong which extend fromsaid entry through said lips and about halfway through the width of saidsidewalls.